Rowing device



Dec. 10, 1957 J. H. ANDRESEN, JR

ROWING DEVICE Filed NOV. 2, 1954 M R. N MW e W m4 ROWING DEVICE John H. Andresen, J12, Greenwood Lake, N. Y.

Application November 2, 1954, Serial No. 466,269

Claims. (Cl. 9-7) My present invention relates to rowing devices and more particularly to a rowing device attachable and,. if desired, detachable from a canoe and so arranged that when the device is in place the canoe may still be operated by paddling in the usual manner.

Various attempts have been made to attach oar locks and seats toa canoe in such manner that cars may readily be used, but such oar locks or seats would either necessarily be permanent in their installation or so complex in construction and formation as to make the structure extrememly inconvenient in use and necessarily had the result of turning the canoe permanently into a row boat.

One of the essential considerations to be kept in mind in securing oar locks and otherelements to a canoe in order to enable it to be rowed is that the direction of thrust on the oar locks is such that unless they are properly located as required by my invention the canoe struc ture itselfor the oar lock support requires a special brace which in turn requires a special construction of the canoe or the filling up of the canoe interior with special bracing structures.

My invention contemplates the utilization ofa removable frame so constructed that it may readily besecured to or removed from the canoe and so arranged that the single frame provides a seat at the appropriate height from the bottom of the canoe in connection with supports for the oar locks in such manner that these sup ports transfer thrust on the oar locks to the seat.

By this means, therefore, the seat and the oar locks are in correct relative position for easy and efiicient'rowing. This forms a primary object of my invention.

Another and extremely important object of my invention is the arrangement of the seat and oar lock frame so that the force on the oar lock is in the direction of the oar lock support. The oar locks extend out from the gunwales and forward of the rower in the seat position. The outward extension of the oar locks provides an appropriate position for oar leverage.

A. further object of my invention is the arrangement of the single support frame for the seat and oar. locks so that the reaction of the rower onthe seat opposes directly the forces of the oars on the oar locks, thereby producingonly relatively small stresses on the clamp bolts which securetheseat and oar lock frameto the gunwales.

A further object of my invention is the arrangement of the: seat and. oar lockframe in suchmanner that the ability to paddle or sail a canoe is' not impaired even when my IlOVGli device is attached;

Other objects and advantages of my invention include the arrangement of the seat in the seat and oar lock; frame so that the seat is lower in the canoe than the regular-1 canoe'seats so'that thecanoe is much more stable when the user thereof is seated: thereon; that is,-with my novel device. secured substantially at the middle of' the canoe, the: canoebecomes extremely: safe for. operation by oars even by children; my device is also so compact thatitt may bestored entirely within the boundaries of atent O ice the canoe, and two of the devices may be used in a single canoe simultaneously; my device when used in the canoe further serves to stiffen the canoe by providing extra thwarts; my device is also extremely light in weight since it may be made of light weight material such as aluminum and is also adjustable to various widths of canoes.

The foregoing and many other objects of my invention will become apparent in the following description and drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective showing my novel combination oar lock seat mounted in a canoe.

Figure 2 is a view in perspective showing one form which my novel combination oar lock seat may take.

Figure 2A is a view of a clamp member for use with the unit of Figure 2.

Figure 3 is a view in perspective showing another form which my novel oar lock seat may take.

Figure 4 is an expanded view in perspective of a modified form of my novel seat oar lock for a canoe using an all metal construction.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, I have here shown the simplest form which my novel oar lock seat structure may take. In this case, no specific attachment of the oar lock seat 10 to the canoe 11 is shown, but rather the unit is so arranged that the horizontal sections 12, 13, 14 and 15 thereof may be placed directly onthe upper edge of the gunwales 16, 17 of the canoe, preferably amidships. In such case, if the unit is designed to fit the widest part of the canoe, the sliding thereof out of position will be prevented.

The unit may, however, be positioned by the placement of a stop clamp on the gunwales at locations 21, 22 immediately behind sections 13, 15 of the seat to prevent the shift of the seat toward the rear of the rower. Actually, other and more appropriate direct clamping of the seat to the canoe may be utilized, and these will be brought out in connection with the more specific description of the unit.

More specifically, in Figure 2 my novel rowing seat for a canoe consists of a pair of cross bars 25 and'26. These cross bars 25 and 26 each have a central horizontal run 27 and 28 across which a fabric seat 20 may be secured in any appropriate manner. Eachof the bars 25 and26 has extensions 14 and 12 for the bar 25 and 15 and 13 for the bar 26 raised approximately three inches above the horizontal runs 27 and 28 so that the seat 20 will be approximately three inches below the gilnwales 16 and 17 of the canoe when the seat is in p ace.

Sections 12 and 14 of bar 25 are connected to section 27 by the integral downwardly extending sections 30 and 31 and sections 13 and 15 of bar 26 are connected to the lower section 28 by the integral downwardly connected sections 32 and 33. Thus, the entire bar 26 comprising sections 15, 32, 28, 33 and 13 may be a single integral bent tubular aluminum piece.

Similarly, the bar 25 consisting of sections 14, 30, 27, 31 and 12 may likewise be a single bent integral tubular piece.

The thrust bars 40 and 41 are each connected across the outer ends of the bars 25 and 26, the thrust bar 40 being connected at the outer ends of sections 13 and 12 of the bars 25 and 26 and the thrust bar 41 being'connected across the outer ends 14 and 15' of the bars 25 and 26. This connection may be accomplished in any suitable manner. For instance, thrust bars 44) and 41 may be integral with the bar 26, beingbent at an appropriate-radius at sections 43 and 44 of bar 26. The thrust bars 40and 41 may'also be secured to the endsof sections 13 and 15 on cross bar 26 in any suitable manner as, for instance,- by a sleeve connection, a threaded connection or by the utilization of nuts and bolts passing through aligned openings in the ends of thrust bar 40 and section 13 on one side and thrust bar 41 and section 15 on the other side.

Thus, for example, the end of thrust bar 40 may slide into the bent end of section 13 and bolts be passed through aligned openings, the same connection being used on the other side for thrust bar 41. Bar may be secured to the thrust bars and 41 on each side in any suitable manner as, for instance, by bending forward sections 46 and 47 of the bar 25 at the ends of extensions 14 and 12 and passing bolts 50 with appropriate nuts through aligned openings to integrate the unit.

An oar lock holder 51 is secured in any suitable manner at the outer end of thrust bar 40 and a similar oar lock holder 52 is secured in any suitable manner to the outer end of thrust bar 41. Oar locks 53, 53 may then be placed in the oar lock holders 51 and 52. Since members 40, 41 are secured on top of members 46, 47, there is a slight upward tilt of members 40, 41 toward the oar lock position, raising the oar locks to a proper height above the seat.

It will be seen by this means a simplified oar lock holder and seat arrangement in unified form is provided which may simply be placed on the gunwales of the canoe, being held in place by the weight of the user.

The thrust of the oar locks is then taken longitudinally along the thrust bars 40 and 41; that is, the tubular members 40 and 41 have substantial compressive strength, and the device is so arranged that the rowing forces are taken by the unit along the line of the greatest strength of the tubular member.

In addition, since the force on the thrust bars 40, 41 is translated by my novel unit into a force along the gunwales of the canoe and thus along the line of their greatest strength, no twisting or bending force is imposed upon the gunwales of the canoe or the frame thereof.

By this means also the oar locks are located at an appropriate distance outside the gunwale on each side to provide proper leverage for the oars, and the seat is located at an appropriate depth below the oar locks to provide proper leverage for the arms and body to operate the oars.

It will be obvious that various means may be utilized to clamp the seat of Figure 2 to the canoe of Figure 1. Clamping openings may be provided in sections 12, 13, 14 and 15 of the seat to receive and position clamps.

Also, as shown in Figure 2A, each of sections 12, 13, 14, 15 of bars 25, 26 may be received in recess 60 of angular clamp bracket 61 and held in position by the bent double end bolt 63 drawn through openings in bracket 61 by nuts 64. With the end 62 of bracket 61 placed under the gunwales 21, 22, tightening of bolts 64 will compress the gunwales between the sections 12, 13, 14, 15 and their respective brackets 61.

In Figure 3 I have shown a modification of the seat arrangement wherein the cross bars 127, 128 which support any appropriate seat which may be of fabric or of a stiff structure between them are connected to the thrust bars 140 and 141 by angular members 114, 115 on one side and 112, 113 on the other side, the angular members being secured in any suitable manner as by welding or, if desired, by bolts to the cross bars 127, 128 and the thrust bars 140 and 141.

The horizontal run of each of the members 112 to 115 is provided with openings 100 to receive clamping elements hereinafter described. The vertical run of each of the angular members 112 to 115 is of the appropriate height to place the seat which is supported by cross bars 127, 128 at the proper depth below the oar lock holders 51 and 52. Clamp members 102 may be provided for each of the horizontal sections of angular members 112 to 115, the clamp members comprising in this case right angular elements having a clamping section 103 and a threaded section 104. The threaded section. 104 is bent upwardly through the slotted opening in each of the angular members 112 to 115 where they may each be engaged by the wing nut 105.

When the seat is placed on the gunwales, the clamp members 102 are turned so that horizontal sections 103 of each thereof extend beneath the gunwales and the wing nuts 105 are then tightened, clamping the gunwale on each of four points between the horizontal section 103 of the clamp and on the underside of the gunwale and the horizontal section of each of the angular members 112 to 115 on the upper side of the gunwale. Since the end of each thrust bar 140, 141 is under sections 113, 115 and above sections 112, 114, the oar lock ends of the bars are raised.

Referring now to Figure 4, I have here shown a modification of my novel oar lock seat arrangement wherein the construction is entirely of metal. Instead of cross bars 25 and 26 of Figure 2 or the cross bars 127 and 128 of Figure 3, I have here shown a seat 220 which may be of any material including pressed or cast metal, plastic, fibrous glass plastic or other materials perforated for lightness and water drainage, the lateral ends of the seat being provided with upwardly extending sections 230, 231, 232 and 233 connecting with horizontal members 212, 213, 214, 215 in such manner that the horizontal members 212 to 215 are approximately three inches above the horizontal seat 220. The horizontal members 212 to 215 are each provided with a transverse groove 221, 222, 223, 224, the grooves 221, 222 being arranged to receive the thrust bar 241 and the grooves 223, 224 being arranged to receive the thrust bar 242.

The thrust bars 241, 242 on each side are provided with openings 249, 250. The openings 249, 250 of thrust bar 241 register with the openings 249a and 250a in grooves 221 and 222.

Bolts 260 may then be passed through each of the aligned sets of openings, a curved washer 261 placed over the upwardly directed end of the bolt and a securement nut 262 placed over the end at each set of openings so that thrust bar 241 is integrated with the seat 220 on the left side. An identical construction is provided for the thrust bar 240 on the other side.

The openings 200 in sections 212 to 215 of the seat will receive clamps 102 which are secured by the wing nuts 105 in the manner already described in connection with Figure 3 in order to secure the entire unit to the canoe. The members 212 and 214 are designed so that grooves 221, 223 are higher than grooves 222, 224 to raise the oar lock ends of thrust bars 241.

In this way the identical advantages and operation are obtained for the Figure 4 solid seat construction as described in connection with Figures 1, 2, and 3.

By this means, therefore, I have provided a simplified seat-oar lock structure for a canoe which places the oar locks at the appropriate position for operation in connection with an appropriate height of the seat for proper operation, the thrust of the oar locks is received longitudinally along a tubular member which in turn transmits the force longitudinally against the gunwales of the canoe, thereby obviating the need for special bracing; the unit as a whole, in fact, reinforces the entire canoe structure; the operability of the canoe as a canoe by paddling or sailing is in no way interfered with by the structure; the unit is made safer by reason of the fact that the seat is positioned below the gunwales amidships of the canoe so that even children may be permitted to operate it safely.

In the foregoing the invention has been described solely in connection with specific illustrative embodiments thereof. Since many variations and modifications of the invention will now be obvious to those skilled in the art, it is preferred to be bound not by the specific disclosures herein contained but only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A rowing device comprising a pair of substantially parallel support members; a seat supported between said support members; each of said support members having longitudinal extensions at each end; at least the outer portions of said extensions being above the level of the seat and in a plane substantially parallel thereto; a thrust bar mounted on each side of said device; each thrust bar being connected across a pair of said longitudinal extensions on each side and extending substantially transversely thereto; the thrust bar on each side terminating at one of said extensions on each side and extending beyond the other of said extensions on each side to a free end; each free end carrying oar-lock support means.

2. A rowing device comprising a pair of substantially parallel support members; a seat supported between said support members; each of said support members having longitudinal extensions at each end; at least the outer portions of said extensions being above the level of the seat and in a plane substantially parallel thereto; a thrust bar mounted on each side of said device; each thrust bar being connected across a pair of said longitudinal extensions on each side and substantially transverse thereto; the thrust bar on each side terminating at one of said extensions on each side and extending beyond the other of said extensions on each side to a free end; each free end carrying oar-lock support means; said thrust bars diverging outward and upward toward the oar-lock support ends.

3. A rowing device comprising a pair of substantially parallel support members; a seat supported between said support members; each of said support members having longitudinal extensions at each end; at least the outer portions of said extensions being above the level of the seat and in a plane substantially parallel thereto; a thrust bar mounted on each side of said device; each thrust bar being connected across a pair of said longitudinal extensions on each side and substantially transverse thereto; the thrust bar on each side terminating at one of said extensions on each side and extending beyond the other of said extensions on each side to a free end; each free end carrying oar-lock support means, said thrust bars diverging outward and upward toward the oar-lock support ends, and means for securing said rowing device to the gunwales of a floating vessel with the support extensions resting on the gunwales, the thrust bars at a level above the gunwales and the seat below the level of the gunwales.

4. A rowing device comprising a seat; a pair of parallel longitudinal support extensions from said seat and on each side thereof; at least the outer portions of said extensions being above the level of the seat and in a plane substantially parallel thereto; a thrust bar mounted on each side of said device; each thrust bar being connected across a pair of said longitudinal extensions on each side and extending substantially transverse thereto; the thrust bar on each side terminating at one of said extensions on each side and extending beyond the other of said extensions on each side to a free end; the free end of the thrust bar on each side which extends beyond the support carrying oar-lock support means.

5. A rowing device comprising a seat; a pair of parallel longitudinal support extensions from said seat and on each side thereof; at least the outer portions of said extensions being above the level of the seat and in a plane substantially parallel thereto; a thrust bar mounted on each side of said device; each thrust bar being connected across a pair of said longitudinal extensions on each side and being substantially transverse thereto; the thrust bar on each side terminating at one of said extensions on each side and extending beyond the other of said extensions on each side to a free end; the free end of the thrust bar on each side which extends beyond the support carrying oar-lock support means, said thrust bars diverging apart and rising upward toward the oar-lock support ends, and means for securing said rowing device to the gunwales of a floating vessel with the support extensions resting on the gunwales, the thrust bars at a level above the gunwales and the seat below the level of the gunwales.

Armstrong Nov. 9, 1880 Bashaw May 16, 1950 

